Stories for March 2011

Thursday, March 10th 2011 - 06:34 UTC
China scrambles to secure long-term uranium supplies for 84 nuclear plants

China’s scramble to secure long-term uranium supplies to support the rapid expansion of its nuclear power industry has led the state-owned CGNPC Uranium to make a 1.23 billion US dollars takeover bid for London-listed Kalahari Minerals.
Thursday, March 10th 2011 - 06:29 UTC
Enrolment of foreign students in Chilean universities soars 700% in a decade

The enrolment of foreign students in Chilean universities has grown by 700% this past decade, with North American students leading the pack. Many students are attracted by the opportunity to travel, to learn Spanish and to experience a different culture.
Thursday, March 10th 2011 - 06:17 UTC
World has 1.210 billionaires; Mexico’s Carlos Slim remains the richest person

Mexico’s Carlos Slim remains the world’s richest person for a second year with estimated assets of 74 billion US dollars, according to Forbes magazine’s annual global ranking of billionaires.
Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 22:52 UTC
“Argentina has not learnt the 2001 lesson, nor have many investors the 2008 crisis”

“There is no evidence that Argentina has learnt the lesson from the 2001 crisis”, said Carmen Reinhart one of the most influential US economists and an expert in Latin America, who has worked for the IMF, in Wall Street and teaches at the University of Maryland.
Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 21:31 UTC
Unasur HQ to be named after Nestor Kirchner; next Friday the official ceremony

The permanent headquarters of Unasur, (Union of South American Nations) in Quito, Ecuador will be named after its first Secretary General, deceased Argentine former president Nestor Kirchner, the government of Ecuador officially announced Wednesday.
Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 21:27 UTC
US after transparent trade across Asia-Pacific region; plans to double exports in five years

The United States will step up efforts for free, open and transparent trade across the Asia Pacific region as it seeks to double US exports in five years, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.
Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 21:21 UTC
UK farmers come out strongly against Mercosur “cheap meat imports”

Farmers in the UK have warned the EU against a trade deal with Mercosur which could see Brazil and Argentina given access to the European meat market, potentially flooding the market with cheap imports and undermining domestic producers.
Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 21:17 UTC
Ice losses in both caskets and rising sea level faster than estimated

Ice loss from Antarctica and Greenland has accelerated over the last 20 years, research shows, and will soon become the biggest driver of sea level rise. From satellite data and climate models, scientists calculate that the two polar ice sheets are losing enough ice to raise sea levels by 1.3mm each year.
Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 21:07 UTC
China plans to build 10 million low cost homes in 2011

China plans to build 10 million low-cost homes this year at a cost of 200 billion US dollars, a government minister has said. The move comes as soaring home prices spur complaints about affordability.
Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 21:03 UTC
Critically low oxygen blamed for massive death of fish in South California

Critically low oxygen levels have been measured in a southern Californian harbour after millions of dead fish were washed up in Redondo Beach's marina, close to Los Angeles. A local scientist, Brent Scheiwe, said he took dissolved oxygen level readings in the harbour and found them at almost zero.